3 Killed, 3 Hurt In I-57 Head-on Collision

March 29, 1989|By Marja Mills and Jerry Crimmins.

Three people were killed and three others injured Tuesday night in a head-on collision on Int. Hwy. 57 near 108th Street that police said occurred when a car crossed the highway median and struck a pickup truck going in the opposite direction.

The car that crossed the median, a blue 1982 Mercury Lynx, was carrying five people-two sisters, two brothers and a friend-police said. All those killed were apparently riding in the Mercury.

The collision took place at 7:45 p.m. in the southbound lanes, Sgt. Paul Smith of the Illinois State Police said.

The victims were taken to Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island and Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center.

A spokesman for Christ Hospital said one victim, an unidentified man, was pronounced dead on arrival there. A second victim at the hospital, Felicia Thomas, 10, of 935 N. Mohawk St., was listed in critical condition with head injuries.

A spokesman for Little Company of Mary Hospital said two victims were brought there. One of them was dead on arrival: Antonio Adams, 23, of 16212 Sussex Ave., Markham. The other victim suffered severe facial cuts and was listed in fair condition. The Little Company of Mary spokesman identified him as Matthew Muhammed, 49, of 2848 W. 141st Pl., Blue Island.

A female victim of the crash, in her 30s or 40s, was pronounced dead at Michael Reese Hospital. A spokesman for Michael Reese said the woman died of multiple trauma and carried no identification.

St. Francis Hospital reported receiving one injured person from the accident, Terrence Thomas, 8, also of 935 N. Mohawk St. He was listed in stable condition.

Smith said the Mercury had been traveling north on I-57. Witnesses told police the car appeared to be speeding. The car went across the grassy median of I-57 and hit a southbound pickup truck that apparently contained only one person.

Smith said the driver of the Mercury was killed in the crash.

Six ambulances were sent to the scene by the Chicago Fire Department.

Mitch Rogers of the Illinois Department of Transportation said none of the victims was pinned in the vehicles when rescue workers arrived.

``The people were taken out of the cars, and we put them on the shoulder and the grassy slope,`` he said.

All the southbound lanes were closed after the accident. By 9 p.m., southbound traffic was moving in the left lane and on the left shoulder, Rogers said.